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Archimedes Tangram is part of the Professor Puzzle Great Minds range of unique puzzles. Finished in an antique style to give the puzzle an aged look, it is inspired by the ancient Greek mathematician and physicist who credited with designing innovative machines including the screw pump that bears his name.

The aim of the Tangram puzzle is to remove the 14 wooden pieces from the frame and then fit them back in again. Or why not check out the booklet with 12 further shape building challenges. A perfect gift for someone who likes to test their grey matter.

Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC)A Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists of classical antiquity. He is renowned for sitting in the bath and recognising the laws of displacement. He was so excited at this discovery that he took to the streets naked crying ‘Eureka!’ (‘I have found it!’ in Greek) –a phrase that has since passed into common usage.

He also designed and wrote about a tangram-type puzzle. It consists of pieces cut from a square which can be used to make other polygons. This tangram is called the Loculus of Archimedes. At over 2000 years old, this is the world’s oldest puzzle. What Archimedes did not know at the time was that without rotations or reflections, there are 536 different ways to place the 14 pieces back into the square frame!